Youth Friendly APATHY IS BORING organization spoke with young people from Afro Women and Youth Foundation about what Black History Month means to them, the importance of implementing racial justice in Canadian systems, and how organizations can be more welcoming to Black and immigrants youth.
Tiaraoluwanimi Esan: Black History Month to me means acknowledging and appreciating Blackness in all aspects of society. It is giving Black creators, inventors, and influencers recognition and the credit they deserve. It is a reminder of how influential Black culture is in society and despite how much suffering and pain our past holds we still find a way to embrace our once-forbidden culture. Black History Month is a time of celebration.
Idiakhosa Onaiwu-Osayi: Though many people see Black History Month as a period to focus more on anti-racism efforts, I see it as more than that. To me, Black History Month is a time to advocate against racism; a time to celebrate the achievements of Black people today. I see many people talk about how Black people fought in the world wars and helped the country. As much as I believe this strengthens our hopes and increases our strength to fight, I know that we are more than the history that came before us. So let’s focus on Black people making contributions today, Black businesses that influence the way we live, our art, food, and culture. To me, this is Black History Month: a month to celebrate all things Black, not just the history before but the history we are rewriting and the ones we will continue to write.
It may come as a surprise to many, but there is no universal way of Blackness nor a universal way to celebrate Blackness
I started Afro Women and Youth Foundation because of my daughter’s experience in an Ontario school between 2016 – 20
